Brigitte Bentele

When I first started studying drawing and painting at the Art Students League about 25 years ago, the model was the focus of my watercolor class. Watching how the teacher was able to reveal a face or body with a few shapes was magical. I wanted to be able to do that.

Many of my watercolors are now plein-air landscapes. I try to distill the complexity of what I see into simplified shapes, colors, and tones. I complete a painting in one session of a few hours, in all weather and times of day or night. In my studio I set up a still life and again let the abstract shapes and tones formed by charcoal, ink, pastel, watercolor, or oil move the eye across the page. Recently, I've assembled pieces of watercolors into collages of my imagination.

No matter the medium, what delights me most is the experience. It's being there, wholly present, fully observant, and open to wonderful surprises. The world can circle around me but my focus stays on the view in front of me and whatever materials I'm using. I can empty my mind of chatter and let go of judgments and preoccupations. I want my viewer to have that experience too.

Art has been a passion all my life, but I didn't take classes until the summer of 2001. I've studied at the Art Students League, the National Academy of Design School, and the New York Studio School, and have been inspired by many teachers of classes and workshops in drawing, watercolor, pastel, oil, and sculpture. Recently I've created collages from my watercolors.

After retiring as a math teacher for over 40 years, I've discovered a new community of artists and the joy of creating art. My paintings are held in private collections.